Playing With Power

Confessional

We rode everything and talked about everything. Every coaster we could, we rode it. Some of them twice!

It was dark as we headed into Chocolate World. We rode through it one time, TJ continuously hushing me because he wanted to learn. He was such a dork and I loved it.

As we exited and got our chocolate, I led him to the milkshake stand. He was carrying bags of silly tourist things, making me giggle to myself.

He paid for our shakes and we went to find a table. "Do you want to get dinner sometime this week? Noam and I are off all week and thought we'd hang around until Saturday..."

So it had been Noam out front. I shuttered to myself thinking about what those two were up to....

Regardless of my gag reflexes, I smiled at him, settling Pikachu into his own seat. "I'd like that."

"Maybe something a little fancy." I couldn't tell if he was making fun or not. Earlier I'd found out he was staying at the Hilton Garden and had given him crap about being too fancy for me. He was probably just giving it back.

"Sure, whatever you want." I smiled again, sipping at my way-thick dark chocolate milkshake. "I work tomorrow morning, then I have to get Rolland, then mom things, adulting things.... what about Thursday? Wait, no, Friday! Sorry. I have a concert to work Thursday night. Mom brain." I felt my cheeks heat up in a blush.

TJ just smiled at me. "I'll make reservations for Friday night then."

I nodded. "I probably won't see you tomorrow, or really a whole lot this week..."

"Well, if you find time, you know where to find me." He smiled sincerely, like he really understood. It was odd to me, a man that actually seemed to get it. There was so much to get, but Teddy Perkins got it.

I nodded a little. "Thanks." It was a loaded word. Thanks for not running, not judging, not pressuring me to choose, for being genuine and genuinely interested.... it meant so many things, and all I could manage to express all of it was a meek little 'thanks.' "As much as I really do wish I could spend more time with you, I gotta be a mom too. And he's only little once..."

We had discussed it, TJ meeting Rolland. I wanted them to, but my Rolly craved male attention to an obsessive level. I didn't want him to get attached, then something happened and he'd be heartbroken by yet another male figure in his life. He had just turned three and I wanted to keep my baby safe....

"Kenz, I get it," he assured me with a smile. "That's important. I have something for him back at the hotel..."

I looked up, surprised. "Really....? Teej, you didn't have to...."

"I know. I just like kids a lot." An audible 'Awwww!!!!' threatened to escape my mouth but I bit it back.

"He'll be thrilled...." I looked at the perfect male specimen across from me, thinking all kinds of thinks. "I DO want the two of you to meet," I promised. "I'm just... I have to protect him. His dad is such a piece of shit..." A lump rose in my throat, half choking me at the thought of Brett and what he did to us.

His eyes narrowed a little, his demeanor shifted. "I won't EVER do anything to hurt either of you." It was a soft, but fierce promise. I felt the lump in my throat harden. How was I so lucky? Oh my god, how was I falling so fast?